In The Word
Read: Matthew 6:19-34
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
The Cure for Anxiety
25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? 27 And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
We must be careful not to give our hearts to wealth, because it will destroy our relationship with God. Paul instructed us in his letter to Timothy, “To not be conceited or to fix our hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. To do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for ourselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that we may take hold of that which is life indeed.” The way to practically live this out is to live by the 10, 10, 80 rule. When we get paid, we give 10% to our local church, put 10% in savings, and the other 80% is what we live off of. This way, we place God first by giving our tithe and we have margin with our savings to be generous to others as the need would present itself. We enjoy the rest by living within our means. Own your riches; don’t allow them to own you.
When we live this way, we have nothing to worry about. God will always meet our needs, because we have put His kingdom and righteousness first in our lives. We have to make a decision in life: will we trust in God or in the money God supplies to us? Don’t put the cart before the horse; it is God who gives wealth, and it is those who love and appreciate Him that give back. Which master do you serve?